Melissa: What are the limits of an office?

(www.myorganizedbiz.com) – Let’s get one thing clear – Melissa is not a slacker. Or lazy. Melissa is actually running three (yes, three) businesses out of her home office – as well as maintaining her personal financial records there.

Like many of my clients, Melissa is the first to admit the situation isn’t ideal, but she’s so busy that a complete overhaul of her space or her systems just hasn’t been an option.

The goal of the Wednesday Makeover is to give three ideas that will, if implemented, dramatically improve the functioning of your home office and the degree of enjoyment you get from your work.

Suggestion 1: Get rid of the stackable trays.

I honestly wish stackable trays had never been created. They seem so handy, but I hardly see anyone use them efficiently. My two problems with stackable trays are: 1. You can’t see what’s in them – so stuff gets put in there that you’re unlikely to find again. 2. There are better uses for plastic. Like sleds. Or coffee cups.

You’re admittedly not using them, so you can donate them to Goodwill in good conscience and then someone else can put ‘em on their own desk and not use them.

Suggestion 2: Get rid of the TV.

I’ve got a “get rid of” theme going now. Here’s why I think the TV should go: it has nothing at all to do with your business. If you want to be effective working from home, everything that’s in your office must align with your work and support it.

If you have a working television elsewhere in the house, this puppy needs to go. It’s not only taking up precious real estate in your office, but it’s also creating a distraction while you’re working. By watching and listening to it, this keeps you from working (and finishing). Just think – you could spend time doing things with your loved ones instead of being in the office! Crazy?

Suggestion 3: Look at your long-term goals.

What I wanted to say for suggestion 3 was something froofy – like put up a shelf on the long wall to store all of your books.

But I just don’t do froofy very well, so I’ll be compassionately honest instead: Your office is at capacity. Even though it’s tidy-looking, you’re running the equivalent of four businesses from one space, with two part-time helpers, and plans for further expansion.

You don’t need a trip to Office Depot for dividers – you need a good look at where you’re going long-term. You’re at the point where you need a space that allows you to create clear structural divisions between your businesses. Ask yourself:

• What would I love to be spending my time doing?
• What can I delegate?
• What can I cut out?

I loved how you mentioned that you do mental planning for the long term – and even when they’re unwritten goals, you still achieve them. (It’s noteworthy that Melissa is an Enneagram 3, “The Achiever”, which means she can take on the world singlehandedly without batting an eyelash.) Get this ability to work for you by defining your long term business goals for the next 5-10 years. Then you’ll know what to do in your office, rather than the other way around. You’re ready for it – and it will be worth more than 100 froofy suggestions.

I want to thank Melissa for jumping in to be my very first Wednesday Makeover volunteer - a brave soul! And as a thank you, I’ll be giving her a $10 credit to Powells Books (a better alternative to Amazon) to pick up the next thing on your reading list. Thanks, Melissa!

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